Circulate Waste into Protein

Global Cerah

Circulate Waste into Protein

Integrating organic waste treatment and production of alternative feeds into a sustainable solution supported by IoT

Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Malaysia

Hybrid of for-profit and nonprofit

Our target community is 10 million of local small-scale farmers and plantation owners in the Malaysia and 50 million in Southeast Asia (SEA) region who are experiencing the adverse effects of climate change due to poor waste disposal practices. There are 150 million tons of agricultural waste annually in SEA region and 96% disposed by landfills or incineration. One major consequence they face is the costly and inefficient disposal methods which contribute to long-lasting pollution of the land and air, leading to soil contamination, harmful gas emissions, smoke, and dust. Landfill, a common practice in the market that leads to emission of landfill gas (LFG), a natural by-product of the decomposition of organic material in landfills. Methane inside LFG is one of the main components that cause greenhouse gas (GHG) and leads to climate change. The impacts of climate change can also lead to a decrease in soil fertility, as altered rainfall patterns and extreme temperatures affect soil moisture and nutrient levels, making it more difficult to maintain healthy soil for growing crops. All of these changes, coupled with the increased financial burden of adapting to new climate conditions, can jeopardize food security, decrease income, and push farmers into poverty.

Our waste circular solution integrates organic waste management and production of alternative protein into a sustainable solution supported by IoT, which allows us to convert the waste from treatment into the final production of fertilizers and feed meals consistently and in high quality control. Application of IoT that connects all robotic process automation (RPAs) started from waste treatment till final production of alternative protein, whereas temperature sensors will control the heating processes in waste treatment. With this, we can circulate those recycled waste into high nutritious alternative protein that can reuse in the agricultural industry instead of landfills that cause climate change. Furthermore, by providing cost-effective alternatives to imported feeds and fertilizers, we are helping to reduce inflation in food price and enhances food security through our subsidy program to support farmers with affordable price. Through these strategies, our solution not only helps mitigate climate change but also enhances the adaptive capacity of farmers to cope with its ongoing and future impacts, ensuring long-term sustainability and resilience in the agricultural sector. Please find our system demo here: https://youtu.be/kKtkKkgqdDY

We are bridging the gap between organic waste, climate change, and agricultural resilience. As climate challenges intensify, the connection between sustainable waste management, agriculture, and supply chain resiliency has never been more critical. Since 2021, we have empowered 5,000 farmers across Malaysia and Southeast Asia, reducing their production costs by 30%—saving them approximately USD 2,500 per month through our subsidy program. At the same time, we’ve diverted 50,000 tons of agricultural waste from landfills, converting 48,000 tons into high-value alternative feeds and fertilizers. By preventing landfill waste and reducing methane emissions, we have cut greenhouse gas emissions by 10,000 tons, actively contributing to climate change mitigation. Beyond waste transformation, we’re building a circular economy for agriculture. 2,000 farmers and small businesses have joined our supply chain as waste collectors, replacing traditional disposal methods with a profitable and sustainable alternative. Our impact is clear: we’re not just reducing costs for farmers—we’re making agriculture more resilient, sustainable, and future-proof.